“Access to decent and affordable housing is a human right. It is enshrined in the European Social Charter, but so far, we have not been able to deliver. We must legislate and incentivise social housing. That is why Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are fighting to change the European Semester to include social spending as a golden rule. It is difficult to explain why we have established a percentage of 37% of the Recovery Fund to be spent on the Green Deal and 20% in the digital economy, whereas there is no obligation to invest in people. Together, the Progressives, we can change this!”

S&D Group leader Iratxe García Pérez 

Throughout the week, the S&D Group is co-hosting a series of #ProgressiveHousingWeek online events from 25 to 29 January 2021 to put housing at the top of the agenda for recovery. Iratxe García Pérez will take part in the opening and closing of the weeks’ events. The full programme is available here.

Speakers include Frans Timmermans, Executive VP of the Commission, Leilani Farha, Former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to housing and Global Director of The Shift, Agnes Jongerius, S&D MEP and Fernando Medina, Mayor of Lisbon and PES Group member.

The opening debate of #ProgressiveHousingWeek will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. All the other parts of the programme are accessible by registration only, please RSVP via this link.

NEXT WEEK

S&D MEPs are leading the calls for mandatory due diligence rules for EU companies. We want the Commission to come forward with rules that oblige EU businesses to take responsibility when it comes to human rights and environmental norms throughout the entire supply chain. The Legal Affairs committee will vote on the report on Corporate due diligence and corporate accountability drafted by S&D MEP Lara Wolters on Wednesday 27 January.

On Tuesday 26 January, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency, Emer Cooke, will be in the Environment committee to answer questions on the priority issue of COVID-19 vaccines.

On Wednesday 27 January, S&D MEPs will meet with stakeholders to assess the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and what it mean for workers, jobs and citizens. Pedro Silva Pereira, S&D representative on the UKCG, and Kati Piri, Rapporteur for the EP’s Consent vote on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement will be among the MEPs speaking to EU trade union leaders and citizens groups, among others.

The S&D Group has been advocating a stronger focus on EU-Africa relations for years. On Wednesday, S&D MEPs in the Development Committee will be voting for a new chapter of cooperation with our neighbouring continent that is both fair and sustainable.

You can keep up-to-date on all our initiatives and events on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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